Hole In The Head?
- Thread starter Flubberlump
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Flubberlump
Fish Addict
I know it's brilliant! Thanks very much for your help! I'll keep you updated
OP
OP
Flubberlump
Fish Addict
It's been just over two weeks since the last dose of octozin. Alan is still just as active and eating as well as he was when I last posted. He still has the holes, and having had a good look at him today I think he may have some more. I think maybe I should give a second course octozin. What do you think? How long can a fish usually survive with HITH? It's been a few weeks now and he's still acting the same as before he had the holes, other than the few days of hiding in the cave. Could it be something else? None of the other fish have symptoms.
Hi, ... well I have read of instances where a second dose of Octozin has been needed but like you, I'm beginning to wonder if this is hole in the head. As I can't see him and your photo's arn't close up (I know how hard it is to photograph fish so don't worry about that) I'm wondering if it might be best for you to google images of hole in the head and see if it compares with what you can see on Alan.
I want to be certain it really is HITH before advising further. I'd also appreciate another opinion if anyone else out there is available to take a look over this. The last thing I was to suggest is medicating for the wrong thing or even medicating when he doesn't need it
I want to be certain it really is HITH before advising further. I'd also appreciate another opinion if anyone else out there is available to take a look over this. The last thing I was to suggest is medicating for the wrong thing or even medicating when he doesn't need it
I can see a hole in the head on the last picture.
However I don't think that just medicating will do the trick. Holes in the Head comes from a lack of good nutrition. Since your fish look very skinny I guess that the food isn't entirely right as well.
Does he get enough to eat? Are there no other dominant fish that scare him away?
I don't think this is very likely since A. cacatuoides is a pretty dominant fish itself.
Do you give different foods or just the same one every day?
What foods do you give him to eat?
Do you feed them enough?
Are the other fish also as skinny?
Does he actually eat the food? He doesn't spit it out afterwards?
And maybe a weird question, how does his feces look like? Are they normal? Or white and slime?
However I don't think that just medicating will do the trick. Holes in the Head comes from a lack of good nutrition. Since your fish look very skinny I guess that the food isn't entirely right as well.
Does he get enough to eat? Are there no other dominant fish that scare him away?
I don't think this is very likely since A. cacatuoides is a pretty dominant fish itself.
Do you give different foods or just the same one every day?
What foods do you give him to eat?
Do you feed them enough?
Are the other fish also as skinny?
Does he actually eat the food? He doesn't spit it out afterwards?
And maybe a weird question, how does his feces look like? Are they normal? Or white and slime?
OP
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Flubberlump
Fish Addict
I feed hikari cichlids pellets as well as flake, sinking catfish pellets and half an algae wafer most days. I have noticed that he has recently started to eat the algae wafer which he didn't before, he always goes for food as it sinks. Twice a week a feed a block of frozen food, usually bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp or artemia, he eats the frozen very well. He occasionally spits food out but then he'll grab something else and eat that. I always watch them feeding to make sure everyone is eating well. I feed them gradually to make sure that there isn't a lot of waste left over.
I can't say he's ever really been any chunkier than he is now. He's about 4 years old, do you know the lifespan of a. cacatuoides? Apart from the one day when I saw the rummy noses having a go at him - which was before the treatment - I've never seen any bullying. He definitely isn't chased away from food. He is peaceful himself and rarely chases the others. I wouldn't have said that any of the others are underweight, I will try and get some photos for you, although as Akasha said, they're difficult to get decent photos of!
I did notice a bit of white stringy faeces a week or so ago and wondered if I needed to treat for parasites, but didn't want to be adding too many things at once. It's usually normal. What would you advise? I treated with Epsom salts a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks for your help!
I can't say he's ever really been any chunkier than he is now. He's about 4 years old, do you know the lifespan of a. cacatuoides? Apart from the one day when I saw the rummy noses having a go at him - which was before the treatment - I've never seen any bullying. He definitely isn't chased away from food. He is peaceful himself and rarely chases the others. I wouldn't have said that any of the others are underweight, I will try and get some photos for you, although as Akasha said, they're difficult to get decent photos of!
I did notice a bit of white stringy faeces a week or so ago and wondered if I needed to treat for parasites, but didn't want to be adding too many things at once. It's usually normal. What would you advise? I treated with Epsom salts a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks for your help!
try these. My lot love em http
/www.amazon.co.uk/New-Era-Central-American-CICHLID/dp/B009HSDP9Y
Full of protein which is what he needs.
I feed my lot twice a day. They get a mixture of Tetraprima or New Era flake, then I chuck in a good pinch of New Era cory pellets and half an algae wafer (also New Era, fantastic brand, my lot have gone from strength to strength since going onto that) for my plec and SAE's
Three evenings a week they get something frozen, either artemia, mysis or tropical mix and bloodworms on a Saturday.
SA cichlids need lots of protein so check that the pellets you are giving him have enough protein.
As to the stringy poo ... I don't like the sound
I'm really worried now he's got Hexamita. Keep up the epsom salt dipped food and add a second course of Octozin. I'm worried about Alan
/www.amazon.co.uk/New-Era-Central-American-CICHLID/dp/B009HSDP9YFull of protein which is what he needs.
I feed my lot twice a day. They get a mixture of Tetraprima or New Era flake, then I chuck in a good pinch of New Era cory pellets and half an algae wafer (also New Era, fantastic brand, my lot have gone from strength to strength since going onto that) for my plec and SAE's
Three evenings a week they get something frozen, either artemia, mysis or tropical mix and bloodworms on a Saturday.
SA cichlids need lots of protein so check that the pellets you are giving him have enough protein.
As to the stringy poo ... I don't like the sound
OP
OP
Flubberlump
Fish Addict
Ok I'll do that. I'll up feeding too and get some of the food you suggested. His behaviour is still the same, still comes to the glass for a nosy and follows me round the room. I don't suppose you know anything about their vision, he seems to be able to see a good distance, if I walk out of the room he follows me and the tank is a good 5 metres from the door!
His poo is usually ok, it was just the once that I noticed it (I know that doesn't mean it hasn't been more than once. But usually when I see it it's ok.) I really hope he's ok he's still eating so that's encouraging but I'm worried too. He's such a character.
His poo is usually ok, it was just the once that I noticed it (I know that doesn't mean it hasn't been more than once. But usually when I see it it's ok.) I really hope he's ok he's still eating so that's encouraging but I'm worried too. He's such a character.
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OP
Flubberlump
Fish Addict
I did a 50% water change yesterday so will do another one when the octozin is finished. Would you say the same again or more? I did 50% on day 8 after the last course as it said in the bottle, then weekly 20% changes since.
Just put the first dose of octozin in. As I type Alan is hovering at the side of the tank next to me as I'm defrosting some daphnia in Epsom salts!
EDIT: Just watched plenty of Epsom salt soaked daphnia go down him!
Just put the first dose of octozin in. As I type Alan is hovering at the side of the tank next to me as I'm defrosting some daphnia in Epsom salts!
EDIT: Just watched plenty of Epsom salt soaked daphnia go down him!
no, follow the instructions on the octozin. Those instructions are there for a reason. I normally change 25% but I don't see a difference much in 5%.
You asked earlier about how long apisto's live. I've just done a little research and the answer seems a little confusing but the average of replies seems to be 5-7 years. It may be that Alan is getting old and his immune system is suffering with age.
From my understanding of dwarf cichlids they tend to have an average lifespan of 5-8 years and so I see no reason for apisto's not to fall into that category
You asked earlier about how long apisto's live. I've just done a little research and the answer seems a little confusing but the average of replies seems to be 5-7 years. It may be that Alan is getting old and his immune system is suffering with age.
From my understanding of dwarf cichlids they tend to have an average lifespan of 5-8 years and so I see no reason for apisto's not to fall into that category
OP
OP
Flubberlump
Fish Addict
Ok I'll do the same as last time. Thanks for the info about the age! I've tried to look it up before but as you say it's a bit confusing!
Here are a few photos of some of the others that I've managed to get...
Here are a few photos of some of the others that I've managed to get...
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